Cheap Used Tires Near Me

Used tires are a great way to save money. Not all used tires though are cheap. Bridgestone’s, Michelin’s, and Goodyear’s with 65% tread life on them still go for a competitive price on a set of four. What are your alternatives? Below I will discuss where to find affordable second hand tires, what brands to consider, and how to make sure the tire is safe. I will also share my experience with the place that sells cheap used tires near me.

Cheap Used Tires Near Me – Use the Locator Below

If you are looking for “Cheap Used RV Tires Near Me” use the map below to find your best local options.

 

Who Sells Cheap Used Tires Near Me

There are many places you can find affordable used tires. This includes used tire shops, retreaders, wholesale tire distributors, auto salvages, and online. We are going to focus this article on where to find the cheapest tires.

 

The two places I find the absolute rock bottom tire prices are side of the road used tire shops and salvage yards. You must be aware though what you are saving in price, you are sacrificing in quality.

 

Local Used Tire Shops: In my experience the smaller the better. These places tend to have good customer service and the lowest prices. I like them, because you can haggle the tire price down. Maybe even trade in a tire that you have to offset the price. While the small shops, may not have the same selection, they generally carry a little bit of everything and you can find something that meets your vehicles requirements. With a helpful sales person they may even recommend a similar tire that matches the size and tread to go with it.

 

Salvage Yards: This if often where you can find super cheap tires. The downside is lots of low quality, hard to find matches, and a lot of time spent digging through the tire stacks or walking the yard. Many salvages though don’t look at tread wear and just charge a standard flat fee for tires. This means you can walk out with a practically new pair of Bridgestone’s from a car that was in an accident. More often then not, salvages have low quality tires and if they are sitting outside, you really need to inspect them for weathering.

 

Wholesale used tire distributors will also have affordable tires. The catch though is you need to be purchasing them in bulk to save money.

Alternatives to the High End Brands

It’s nice to get a top tire brand used, but let’s face it, if it’s not in your budget you need an alternative. Here are some of the second and third tier brands I look for if I am in the market for cheap used tires near me. What I like to do is find tires that are manufactured/owned by the big companies, but are sold under different marketing. These tend to be cheaper then the name brands, but still have some of the premium qualities…

 

Here are some of the brands I look for when I need an affordable used tire:

• Cooper
• BF Goodrich
• Uniroyal
• General

These are still decent tires and they are cheaper on the second hand market, because the original sales price is lower then the premium brands. With brands like BF Goodrich and Uniroyal, those are actually owned by Michelin.

How to Get Premium Used Tire Brands Cheap

So on the flip side, maybe you want to get a premium brand, but are looking for a way to get it cheaper. The only way to get a premium brand cheaper on the second hand market is to sacrifice on tread wear. Less tread wear means, less traction and less mileage in the tire. It also means it is more affordable. Never buy a tire with less then 4/32 of tread depth left in it. I don’t care what brand it is or how cheap it is!

How Cheap Is Cheap?

A used tire from one of these manufacturers is going to cost about $55 – $70 per tire depending on the tread depth remaining. For example a Used Uniroyal Tiger Paw GTZ All Season 2215/55R16, 93W, SL with 9/32 tread depth is $55 per tire here. You can outfit your whole vehicle for $220 with those. If you are wondering how much you are saving Walmart sells the same tire for $90 each.

How to Check if a Used Tire is Safe

The problem with cheap tires is there is always the question, why are they cheap? are they not safe? Are there repairs on them? I don’t care how affordable a used tire is or what type of deal you are getting. If it isn’t safe, it isn’t worth it. The second hand tire market is loaded with scams and people who don’t care about your safety. It is up to you to evaluate the tire to ensure it is safe to drive on.

 

When evaluating a used tire, tread depth isn’t the only thing we care about. You need to evaluate the age, structure, and quality of the casing

 

Consider the following when inspecting a cheap used tire:.

• Tread Depth – Measure the tread depth and insure it is more then 4/32.
• Exposed Chords – Check for any pieces of metal protruding through the sidewall.
• Chunking Beads – Look for missing chunks of rubber, right where the rim meets the tire.
• Separated Belts – Rub your hand around the sidewall and see if it feels wavy.
• Aging – Look for rotting rubber. Check the DOT and make sure the tire is less then 6 years old.
• Improper Repairs – Punctures, plugs, patches are all potential safety issues. If a repair is on the sidewall, it is a definite no.
• Linear Damage – Visually inspect and feel inside the tire for metal poking out
• Uneven Treadwear – Look for excessive wearing in the middle of the tread and/or where the tread meets the sidewall.

For a deeper explanation and to learn how to really check a tire for safety, read here. You can also  read the guidance from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

 

Price is not everything. Most places you can find cheap used tires near me, have a lot of choices anyway. No sense in falling in love with a used tire just cause it’s a Michelin, with a shotty repair. There are better tires at better prices if you are willing to look.

Cheap Used Tires Near Me Conclusion

I can’t stress enough, finding cheap tires should never sacrifice your safety. You can find affordable second hand tires, but you need to be willing to shop around a bit. Local small used tire shops and salvage yards tend to be my favorite go to. At a local tire shop I’ll look for the second tier budget brands. At a salvage I look for best quality I can find regardless of the brand since most places will charge a flat rate. This is what I have learned from buying cheap used tires near me.